Image by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
There’s a common stereotype that making good money as an artist is nearly impossible. At least not while you’re alive. That might have been true in the days of Vincent Van Gogh and Johannes Vermeer. But definitely not the case in today’s vibrant digital age when building a solid follower (and customer!) base is more than realistic. If you’ve done the calculations and seen how much it costs to publish a book then you might be put off from pursuing a creative path in the publishing industry. Or perhaps you’ve invested in a litespeed powered web service and you’re running your own art blog in the hopes that someone will read it and start helping you profit from your original work.
Instagram: The New Creative Platform
Much to most people’s surprise, Instagram has become the No. 1 social media platform for artists and art lovers. That’s great news for beginning creatives because you don’t need to climb the social ladder and wait for big-name critics to call the shots. Instead, you can connect with buyers across the globe willing to pay for your work. However, in order to be successful on this platform, it is imperative that you learn how to use the algorithm and reach as many engaged followers as possible.
Etsy: Sell Your Art And Merchandise
On Etsy, you can sell all kinds of artworks, from illustrations, logo designs, icon packs, character designs, along with various other types of graphics and templates. Your opportunities aren’t limited to visual arts—you can also sell music online on Selfy, offer ebooks, knitting patterns, etc. Thankfully, putting a listing up for whatever you are selling takes no more than 5 minutes. Being an Etsy seller is an effortless and quick way to generate a steady passive income stream if you are producing work regularly and market them effectively in order to boost sales.
Seek Commissions From Your Original Work
Commissions are a popular strategy that many beginning artists and illustrators can use to make money both online and offline if they find that they are working for themselves yet seem to have no direction. The best place to start is by showcasing your work on your social media. Don’t forget to mention in your bio that you accept commissions—be it portraits, artistic photo sessions, or any other form of art. With any luck, your first customers will spread the word, and your next clients will approach you themselves.
If you’re unsure about how much to charge, do some research on the internet and look around at some people who have a similar skillset to you and see how their price ranges match up to the level of work they produce. Alternatively, you can use the standard formula of: taking your average hourly rate, multiplying it by the approximate number of hours needed to complete the task, then adding the price of the materials used. If you’re working with visual arts, keep in mind that original work tends to sell a lot higher than prints of your work – so it is key to use this to your advantage.
